Cricket making waves in Israel

The tourists were treated to a game played by the main school in Hura, while they did some coaching.

By JERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
Israel Cricket (photo credit: Courtesy)
Israel Cricket
(photo credit: Courtesy)
This past Friday, the 18 MP’s and former England Test player John Emburey spent the day visiting the southern Israeli town of Sderot and then moving on to the Beduin village of Hura, where cricket has in recent years has passed soccer in popularity.
The tourists were treated to a game played by the main school in Hura, while they did some coaching and had a wonderful lunch.
Beersheba was the next stop where the Israel Cricket Associations globally successful project, Cricket4Peace, was taking place, again the tourists were treated to some fun activities amongst the Palestinian and Israeli children who form part of the project.
The Parliamentarians did get to play some cricket themselves, (although they probably wished they hadn’t) as on Friday they came up against the Israel Cricket Association’s Chairman’s XI, captained by ICA chairman Stanley Perlman and consisting of former Israeli captains, Hillel Awaskar, Alon Moss, Steven Shein, Stanley Perlman and current captain, Herschel Gutman.
The rest of the team was made up with the brightest young talents in Israel, players that have all learned their cricket in Israel and had major successes in the junior national teams.
The Chairman’s Xl batted first and Stanley Perlman and Gabi Schachat put on a convincing 65-run opening stand. Israel’s brightest young talents shone during the game as Gabi Shachat scored an excellent 105 while Yaniv Razpurker used all his talents and brute strength to smash a 25 ball undefeated 91 as the Chairman’s Xl finished on 305/6 in their 30 overs.
Perlman rotated his bowlers wisely, giving everyone an opportunity to bowl as the touring Lords and Commons Cricket Club only managed 146/7 in their 30 overs with the Chairman’s Xl winning by a massive 159-run margin.
Former England Test player John Emburey took two very good catches during the Chairman’s Xl’s innings.
On Saturday, last year’s ICA champions, Young Ashdod, beat the touring British team by 85 runs. Young Ashdod managed 185 in their 25 overs, before dismissing the Lords and Commons Cricket Club for a 100.
The Lords and Commons Cricket Club donated a large amount of cricket equipment to the ICA, which the ICA will be using to continue the excellent work that is taking place in all the youth centers around Israel.